This NYHealth-produced snapshot of New York State’s veteran population offers timely information and statistics on former service members, as well as their health care needs, experiences, and preferences.
A diverse group of veterans calls New York State home—the fifth-largest veteran population in the country. Where do they live? When did they serve? And importantly—how do they use health care and what are their options? These are the questions NYHealth seeks to answer in this snapshot of New York State’s veteran population.
The aggregated data—compiled from recently released information from the Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Census Bureau, and other sources—paint a clearer portrait of New York State’s veterans. Among the findings:
- New York State is home to 838,000 veterans.
- Women make up 7% of former service members, and are expected to reach 10% by 2025.
- Slightly more than half of veterans in New York State are over the age of 65.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) spent $6.3 billion on expenditures throughout the State in 2016, 46% of which was spent on medical care.
- Nearly half of veterans in New York State prefer to receive their health care from outside of the VA.